SWEETWATER, Tenn. (WVLT) – An employee at a Dollar General in Sweetwater was charged after he told authorities he set a fire inside the store on Saturday.

According to Sgt. Kelvin Franco with the Sweetwater Police Department, officers went to the Dollar General store at 844 N. Main Street on Saturday after a fire alarm was activated.

SPD said when officers arrived on the scene, there was smoke coming from the building, and firefighters from several departments responded to extinguish the flames inside.

During the investigation, SPD said it was determined the fire was intentionally set, and detectives identified the suspect as Andrew Helton, an employee at the Dollar General. During an interview with Helton, he “confessed to setting the fire,” according to SPD.

Helton was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated arson.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sweetwater Fire Rescue for their quick response, as well as to the Madisonville Fire Department, Tri-Co Fire Department, Christianburg Fire Department, Notchey Creek Fire Department, Hopewell Fire Department, Monroe County EMS, Monroe County Dispatch, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Bomb & Arson Division for their assistance,” SPD said.